Production Line

As North America's vehicle production increases, suppliers are resisting automakers' demands for price cuts. A newly released survey of 130 suppliers by IRN Inc. found that automakers requested price cuts averaging 3.0 percent this year on existing contracts.... Read More »

If a recent survey by IRN is any indication, suppliers are learning to just say no when their customers demand price cuts. And you might be surprised which automaker gets rejected by suppliers most often.... Read More »

Engineers added 40 hp to boost the Viper's V-10 to 640 hp. Torque is up 7 percent to 600 pounds-feet. Chrysler plans a production run of about 2,000 cars a year. These supplier data are compiled by SupplierBusiness.... Read More »

Automakers would dearly love to shed the weight, cost and bulk of full-sized or mini spare tires, and it's starting to look like they've found a preferred alternative: tire repair kits. According to Edmunds.com, 70 car models sold in the United States in the 2012 model year were equipped with tire repair kits, up from 23 in 2009.... Read More »

The Tesla S is built at the former New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. final-assembly plant in Fremont, Calif., which was a joint venture between General Motors and Toyota Motor Corp. Tesla began production of the sedan there in late June. These supplier data are compiled by SupplierBusiness.... Read More »

The supercharger -- traditionally consigned to a niche of high-performance cars -- is getting a second look as a fuel saver. Eaton Corp., the world's leading supplier of superchargers, says it has a production contract from an unnamed global automaker that plans to pair Eaton's TVS supercharger with a turbocharger to boost a small engine.... Read More »

North American production is expected to decline 1.4 percent from 2012 levels to 3.9 million light vehicles in the first three months of 2013, but that's not a sign the economic recovery is endangered. LMC Automotive, a suburban Detroit research firm, is forecasting a slight drop in production from the year-ago period, when Japanese automakers were replenishing inventories after the March 2011 tsunami.... Read More »

After a round of bankruptcies and buyouts, the world of roof system suppliers has narrowed to three major players: Webasto Roof Systems, Magna Steyr and Valmet Automotive. With convertible production in Europe and North America stuck at recessionary levels, it is unclear whether all three can make much money in this segment.... Read More »

With North American vehicle production headed toward 15 million-plus units next year, automakers are encountering a new breed of supplier: the one that says “no.” To automakers' chagrin, some suppliers -- mainly those in capital-intensive industries -- can pick and choose their customers.... Read More »

Head-up displays are getting a fresh look as safety-alert devices. Suppliers such as Denso, Nippon Seiki, Continental and Delphi Automotive are developing head-up displays that project larger, brighter and more detailed images on the windshield.... Read More »

Valeo is poised to become North America's second-largest producer of climate-control systems now that the French supplier has formed a joint venture to acquire operations producing those systems from Ford's Automotive Components Holding unit.... Read More »

The redesigned Accord, 3.5 inches shorter than its predecessor, is powered by a 2.4-liter inline-four engine with gasoline direct injection. The available 3.5-liter V-6 engine has cylinder deactivation. These supplier data are compiled by SupplierBusiness.... Read More »

The redesigned MKZ’s base version is powered by a 2.0-liter inline-four with turbocharger and gasoline direct injection. Available is a 3.7-liter V-6 engine and a hybrid version. These supplier data are compiled by SupplierBusiness.... Read More »